A TS1140 can both read and write the EFMT3 and EEFMT3 recording formats on MEDIA9 and MEDIA10 or the new EFMT4 and EEFMT4 recording formats on MEDIA9 through MEDIA13. The drive can also read EFMT1 (MEDIA5 through MEDIA8), EFMT2 and EEFMT2 (MEDIA5 through MEDIA10), and EFMT3 and EEFMT3 (MEDIA5 through MEDIA8).

For a DISP=OLD (or DISP=MOD treated as DISP-OLD), if the read-compatible special attribute indicator is not enabled for an EFMT1 request (MEDIA5 through MEDIA8), EFMT2/EEFMT2 request (MEDIA5 through MEDIA10), or EFMT3/EEFMT3 request (MEDIA5 through MEDIA8), device preferencing will occur as it did in prior releases, as the 3592 Model E07 would not be eligible to satisfy the request. Otherwise, if the read-compatible special attribute indicator is enabled, the existing device preferencing lists will be used (oldest to newest drive technology), with the addition of the 3592 Model E07 at the end of the list (at the lowest preference level).

For a DISP=NEW request, a TS1140 tape drive is considered eligible for an EFMT3 or EEFMT3 request (on MEDIA9 and MEDIA10), as well as for the new EFMT4 and EEFMT4 requests (on MEDIA9, MEDIA10, MEDIA11, MEDIA12, and MEDIA13). If a media type is not specified for an EFMT4 or EEFMT4 scratch request, the preference is MEDIA11 followed by MEDIA9, and then MEDIA13, enabling the higher capacity cartridges to be selected first. For an EFMT3 or EEFMT3 request with no media type specified, for a TS1140, MEDIA9 will be the only media type considered.